Autumn review for 999 response times trial

A year-long pilot project involving a new response model focusing on the most serious, immediately life threatening calls, will end in September, and cabinet secretary for health Vaughan Gething said he will then unveil the next stage.

He was speaking after publication of ambulance performance figures for June, which showed that for the first time since the pilot project began, the target for emergency responses was surpassed in all Wales’ health board areas.

The new clinical response model requires that at least 65 per cent of 999 calls designated ‘red’ (indicating an immediately life threatening condition or injury), receive an on-scene response within eight minutes.

In June, the lowest performance was 68 per cent, the highest 82.6 per cent (in Cardiff).

In Gwent, 75 per cent of ‘red’ calls received an on-scene response inside eight minutes.

This was the seventh month out of nine in the pilot project so far that the 65 per cent target had been exceeded in Gwent.

It means that of 264 ‘red’ calls resulting in an on-scene response, 198 were reached inside eight minutes.

Across Wales, 77.1 per cent of ‘red’ call on-scene responses arrived within eight minutes.

Mr Gething said: “People can be very positive about what’s happening in our ambulance service.”

“The people with the greatest need, who are facing life threatening situations, are being seen in the fastest time.

“All of this is being achieved against a backdrop of ever rising demand and pressure on our ambulance service.

“In June alone there were over 37,000 emergency calls made to the Welsh ambulance service - that’s an average of 1,235 calls per day.”

He added that the the clinical response model being trialled is attracting international interest, and praised ambulance service staff for their efforts.

“Results so far have been encouraging, but there’s always more work to do. I’ll make an announcement on next steps in the autumn.”